Student Blog

For me, home was constantly changing. I grew up in a broken home and was raised in two different towns. I was switched bi-weekly between parents, but I was fortunate enough to have stable housing in both households. I had my room in each house and my own private space for school. It wasn't always easy, but my parents always strived to make my siblings and I feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation. Going through this and remembering how stressful it was for me during this time, I can't even come close to comprehending the hardships that those with housing insecurity face. As I mentioned, I was raised in two households, but they are very small towns with a non-existence housing insecurity population. It wasn't until my first year at UW when I moved to Seattle that I realized how big of an issue it really was. I was naive and told myself that they would be okay because there must be countless homeless shelters in such a large city. I'm even ashamed to say that I was biased and would often go a different route because I was fearful that they were dangerous and on something. I was naive and stupid and let society dictate my way of thinking. However, through this course, these biases are diminishing as I learn more about the community. Hearing their stories, their difficulties, and learning how easy it is to one day lose it all in America has opened my eyes for the better. Society tells you that they need to work harder, but they don't understand that the housing insecurity issue is due to various systems of oppression. Our education systems should take note and teach its students how complex of an issue this is because I shouldn't have to learn this in my third year of college. We need to learn to be more compassionate and caring. To look out for one another when people are going through hard times. Not to look the other way and hope they figure it out by themselves. Ignorance is not bliss; we must look the problem straight in the face if we really want change to occur.

Dilsia

It is April in Seattle, and it has been sunny and over 70 degrees for almost a week. I am sitting in the backyard of my college home I share with 7 others, while my puppy chases bugs and digs holes I will have to fill before we move out in August. I can feel my shoulders burning. I have a pile of cough drops next to me, a result of my unfortunate run in with Covid-19 last week. I have spent the past week sick, in the sun, and having a small crisis about my future. I am graduating from college in less than two months. I have had a job lined up at a civil engineering firm in Seattle since last summer, set to begin at the end of August. At the time, even though the job was a bit outside of my major, environmental engineering, job security amidst a pandemic seemed appealing. Plus, the pay is good- more than I would ever need as a 22-year-old, even if I become a lavish Seattle pet parent- and everyone at the company seems to love it, despite the 60+ hour work weeks. “You can retire here,” they’ve told me, “I wish I started here at your age.” Right now, I am taking two final courses towards my degree, both vastly different from the calculation-heavy, technical courses I have been taking for 3 and a half years. Each day that I get closer to graduation, and closer to starting my next step, the more I am filled with doubt, regret, and fear. My passion has always been on the environment side of environmental engineering, and yet somehow, I ended up with a position that was more engineering and none of the environment. As I progress through GCIL, my feelings just get more conflicted, twisted, and unsure. My problems feel trivial when I learn more about my unhoused neighbors and the struggles so many face every day. I want to do something meaningful, and I want to help others. I have a path laid out for me where I can be comfortable and secure forever, while possibly never feeling fulfilled or making a positive impact. However, I also can feel the immense privilege that comes with even considering turning down such a stable option. I don’t know which is the harder choice. I feel simultaneously grateful, selfish, privileged, excited, scared, and unsure regarding these next few months and the decisions to be made. But for now, I will sit in the yard and try to suppress my cough, and hope that the sun stays out.

Mary Gregorich

While reflecting on my time in this class the biggest take away that I have so far is that I feel very thankful and fortunate in the support system that I have in my life. I don’t think I necessary took for granted my family and friends that make up my support system, but I think I have a more renewed appreciation for them. Out all the stuff I’ve learned, discussed and watched from this class the thing that I connected with the most is the high cost of housing which can lead to housing insecurity. I connected with this because there were two times in my life that when I went to renew a lease and the property owners raised the rent substantially to where I needed to move somewhere else that I could afford. Both of these occasions left me with about 10-14 days to find a new place to live due to poor lease renewal planning and no notice of rental increase. While those times were stressful, I was able to lean on my support system for help which was moving in with friend or finding a new apartment through a friend. I didn’t experience homeless during those times, but I definitely see how easy it could have been if things were slightly different. If I didn’t have a support system and any number of negative things were to happen in those situations I could have ended up without a home. All in all, I feel really thankful for the people in my life that provide support when I’ve needed it and wish there was an easier way for people without a support system to somehow get support and feel supported.

Bryce

A while back when visiting the neighborhood I grew up in, I ran into one of our neighbors who never fails to give me some wise and seasoned life advice. I found myself giving my usual spiel regarding what I'm pursuing in University and what I hope to do after graduation. Upon hearing that I chose to major in Law, Societies and Justice and Public Health, he said "Oh! So you're in the business of helping people." I'm not sure why this framing of my academic passions and aspirations was never one I thought about, or why his words now persist as a constant presence in the back of my mind, but I can try to get close to an explanation. My gut response to the expression he shared was "Huh, I guess you're right!" but as I continued to sit with the words I found them a bit troubling. Along with the imposter syndrome that comes with being a woman of color, first-generation citizen and university student, I then felt troubled with my own positionality. Recalling my Research Methods in PH course, and as copied from Dictionary.com, "Positionality is the social and political context that creates your identity in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability status. Positionality also describes how your identity influences, and potentially biases, your understanding of and outlook on the world." My positionality allows me to feel close to much of the community experiencing housing insecurity in terms of a large number of individuals being black & brown, but at the same time I feel a dissonance which I think stems from my unique privileges, and more so, my desire to find myself in a career that enables altruistic goals whether in research, policy, or working on the ground. Altruism often feels white savior-y or as if it entails an inherent disconnect from the community, and it therefore troubles me. In this way, I think the most insightful piece of GCIL thus far was the conversation we had with the UDYC panel. The needed reminder that we are all one community, and that it is not about altruism but rather solidarity in helping one another to thrive or to just offer the support of friendship through rough times, is one that will resonate with me in GCIL and beyond.

Anya

For me, home is a place where I feel the most at ease; it's the place I look forward to after a long day out in society. It's my safe haven. However, it wasn't always like this. Growing up, home was also a place of anxiety and stress- the last place I wanted to be at times. Even then, though, it was still there waiting for me. In this way, home is precious. However, when such a precious and personal concept of home and the status of not having a home becomes political- a controversial topic subject to bias and even to mockery, I can't imagine how that might feel. How vulnerable can that be? Having grown up in the suburbs of Alaska, I had little to no exposure to the homeless community, which caused me to develop my own biases. I remember even being afraid of the occasional homeless person I would see in downtown Anchorage. In high school, due to a series of events, my family went from a healthy middle class to nearing the poverty line. I didn't know that finances and everything that came with that, including housing, was something that was so fragile. Fortunately, my aunt was able to take us in for a few years, and my mom, brother, and I were able to get back on our feet. It wasn't until college where I thoroughly understood that not everyone has someone that can/will lend a helping had. This led me to be interested in public health, where I proceeded to enter the major and learn about the pieces that make up an individual's, a family's, and a community's every day. With everything that I have learned during my college career, I recognize this class, as well as my education at the UW as a great privilege. I hope to continue to check into my biases, listen to the needs of the various communities I hope to work with in the future, and be able to address these needs in lasting ways.

Hana

I have always been terrified of becoming homeless. One of my earliest memories is of my dad driving us to the store and offering to help a man sitting by the shopping carts with blood running down his face. He had been assaulted with a hammer and declined an ambulance. I am not sure of how long he had been sitting there, or of how many people had passed him by without asking the obvious “are you ok?” At least monthly there are similar situations of blatant suffering that I witness on the streets of Seattle, and without fail there are always people passing by without surrendering any indication of having noticed the obvious. When I first moved here, I struggled a lot with how I was supposed to engage with people who clearly were living without basic necessities, and was always ashamed when I avoided eye contact in hopes that despondence would get me home more quickly. This behavior of choosing not to engage with our community’s most vulnerable is revolting and, unfortunately, typical. The behavior is also completely understandable and is sometimes based out of a concern for personal safety or wellbeing. I have particularly struggled with this dichotomy since coming to UW, but it has since been simplified with important life lessons and values that I believe are reinforced by this course. A major reason for why I am taking this class is to determine how I can be a better neighbor to people experiencing homelessness. The opportunity to help a non-profit bettering the lives of people experiencing homelessness for school credit is a no-brainer, but I think that the most valuable aspects of this course will come from listening to the lived experiences of people who have experienced homelessness.

Sara

Since the very first class I took at UW, my main priority has been to graduate as quick as I can in order to limit my student debt burden while absorbing and being exposed to as much new information and knowledge as possible. That being said, I’ve taken mostly general education classes and haven’t had the time to take many classes out of pure personal interest. However, as a Public Health Major, I was lucky enough to be told about this capstone by my academic advisor. I had been waiting my entire college career for the opportunity to participate in a capstone class that gave me the chance to have hands on experience in combatting a problem that faces my community. Growing up in San Diego, which has the 4th largest population of people facing housing insecurity in the country, I have spent a lot of time in a community where this is a very pressing issue. I then moved to Seattle, which has the 3rd largest population of people facing housing insecurity in the country. From a young age, my dad took me on the weekends to pack lunches and volunteer in various soup kitchens to serve some of those in my community that were facing housing insecurity. However, even with having spent my entire life in these two cities, I still find myself very lacking in knowledge and understanding of many of the challenges that people facing homelessness encounter on a daily basis. I feel embarrassed having lived in two cities where housing insecurity is such a large issue and yet there are barely any conversations taking place about how my communities can help and what part we are playing in perpetuating this issue. After getting the amazing opportunity to zoom with young adults facing housing insecurity in my community today, I realized that each person facing homelessness has a different set of experiences as well as different needs to help them find stable and safe housing. There isn’t one fix to the issue that is going to immediately eliminate al the problems that arise for them. Furthermore, I learned that fixing the structures in place that perpetuate the issue of homelessness isn’t exactly a great solution. These structures need to be dismantled and restarted from the ground up if any real, sustainable change is going to happen. We, as community members, also need to dig deep within ourselves and think about what role we play in allowing this problem to continue and how we can help stop it. Ignorance isn’t bliss, and we need to educate ourselves and take the time to speak with those facing housing insecurities so that we can try to understand and work to create sustainable solutions.

Taylor

One lesson I have learned in life is that grief can take on many forms: grieving a loved one, grieving experiences, grieving a lifestyle, etc. Grief is often something that is incomprehensible, that is, until we experience it ourselves. I grew up in Everett, a city where many people are grieving the loss of having secure housing, which has equipped me with a lens that is close to home. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I witnessed how people experiencing homelessness were harassed, assaulted, and stripped of their basic human rights, but had little to no knowledge as to what to do about it. This is a large reason why I pursued public health. As I have gotten older and started to begin working with these vulnerable populations, specifically through this class, it makes me wonder: how else are these communities experiencing grief? There is a deep psychological impact from struggling with homelessness, yet it is largely ignored. From my observations, we do not allow these populations, who have experienced and are actively experiencing trauma, to grieve what they have been through; we tell them that they deserved what has happened to them and that it is their responsibility to pick up the pieces. My question is: Who are we to put their pain in a box and label it a “burden”? We must ask ourselves, if not allowed to grieve what we have lost, how can we move forward? It is vital that we hold our community members empathetically in their own contexts, by recognizing and acknowledging the many forms of loss that they have endured and allowing space for them to grieve. This is especially important in the work that we will be doing in this class, as reframing our mindsets and actions to better reflect this premise can help us be better community members that care.

Lexi

As we progress through this quarter, I find myself heavily reflecting on what I want out of life, out of my career, and out of my education. It is far too easy to get caught up in the routine of college and forget the larger picture: that we’re not here solely to get our degrees and get out. But rather we are here to learn, gain experiences, and take those experiences out into the “real world”. Due to inherent nature of our education system, hands-on application of what we learn is difficult to come by. This has been made even more difficult in the last year because of the pandemic. I was initially drawn to this capstone class because of the ability to actually implement some of the various frameworks of thinking and sustainable practices that I have learned throughout my public health education so far. But as my team and I work towards solving our problem statement and immersing ourselves in this opportunity to directly work with and help a vulnerable community – youth experiencing homeless – I find myself getting caught in a new bubble of thought. I find myself forgetting that this is not only an opportunity to practice what I’ve learned, but that this an opportunity to continue gaining new experiences and learn from new people with diverse experiences. This class has been a chance to learn about societal issues directly from those who face them rather than a third person viewpoint of the problem. Here are some of the things that I have learned from conversations with those experiencing homelessness and people who work directly with them: Take the time to assess your privilege and be sure to check your privilege when having conversations regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. A person’s identity is incredibly complex, and it cannot be understood solely from visible characteristics. Make an effort to truly get to know people’s individual identities. (Our mentor gave as The Hays ADDRESSING Model as a great tool) Save your apologies – people facing homelessness don’t necessarily want our apologies our sympathy for circumstances that we as individuals did not control. Rather they hope that we recognize the things we do control and do what we can to have positive impacts. Actions speak louder than words. I hope that these takeaways resonate with you all, and serve as a reminder that there is something to learn from everyone we meet and everything we participate in. I would love to hear other takeaways people have gotten from their own experiences.

Divya

Immigration into a new country was not easy for my parents and as a result my earlier years in life were riddled with struggles dealing with poverty. Nowadays my parents are very well off and do not worry about many monetary problems. I did not realize this until I began taking this class, but watching my parents fight through poverty all my life has heavily shaped how I view homelessness in the world today. Many of the earliest memories in my life relate to my parents battle against poverty, doing things such as going to the food bank, living in my uncles basement, and going around with my parents as they tried to find work. Eventually my parents determination and hard work began to pay off, they were able to save up enough money to purchase a house, a car, and essentially a new life away from poverty. Seeing how my parents were able to escape from poverty through hard work showed me that through hard work anything could be accomplished. This idea of being able to accomplish anything through hard work acted as a double edged sword for my perspectives towards homelessness. After seeing that my parents could beat poverty through hard work, I mistakenly began to apply this idea to every person I saw, especially homeless individuals. I thought to myself if my parents were able to do all this in a country where they had nothing than anyone would be able to. I did not recognize the flaw in my judgement until coming to the UW and taking classes like this class, which recognizes the many influences that could push a person into poverty and homelessness. I am now better able to acknowledge the multitude of problems and factors that individuals may face and I can now much better empathize with individuals who are having these problems.

Tommy

At Christmas this year, my brother gifted me a book, Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America, by Chris Arnade. In his book, Arnade recounts his personal history as he left his job on Wall Street and began to spend time exploring New York City, eventually beginning long trips to forgotten or “left-behind” parts of the country. The current chapter I am reading is titled “If you want to understand the country, visit McDonald’s”. The author, Chris Arnade, and I grew up with similar amounts of privilege. Middle class, white families in the suburbs. To many people that run in those circles, McDonald’s is a child’s place – somewhere you go to get a quick meal and then leave behind. In his travels, Arnade found that in many places, however, Mcdonald's was much more than that. It was a gathering place, a warm meal, somewhere known and safe to meet your friends. It can be easy for people, like myself and the author, to look at fast food places and see them in a negative light, instead of valuing them for what they represent to some communities. Admittedly, I am only about a fifth the way through the book. However, slowly making my way through, particularly while in this course, is allowing me to process the lessons more fully. The book is showing me ways that my own elitist beliefs can negatively affect already under-served populations. Much like other assumptions about individuals that experience homelessness or substance abuse, correlating certain spaces with unhealthy individuals, rather than accepting it as is, does harm, not good. If we want to be a part of peoples lives, especially if we want to ask if there is anything we can do for them, we have to understand them. And how can we expect to understand people without meeting them in their own neighborhood?

Emelina

I was born in a small town and growing up, I saw people sleep on curbsides, use cardboards for shelter, and children as young as two asking for food. With those instances, I was warned to not come near “those” people as if they are plagues and to avoid them as if they bring misfortune. Ingrained in me was this mindset that people did this to themselves – it was their behaviors that resulted in homelessness. Fast-forward a few years, in high school I joined Sawhorse Revolution – a nonprofit that builds tiny homes for individuals/families experiencing homelessness. Through their partnership with Nickelsville, I was able to interview several residents and gain insight into why homelessness is an institutional failure. Things such as the criminalization of minor offenses to policies rooted in temporarily hiding the problem rather than sustainably resolve it. I remember interviewing someone who told us her biggest concern was the lack of safety – as a female, she dealt with police violence and sexual harassment yet she had to “just deal with it” because of the lack of resources or at times being turned away because of her “history." I came to understand that because of the way society is built, there was a need to point fingers and individuals experiencing homelessness is the easy target. Reflecting on my experience, I now see people who are victims of systemic failures and were forced with little to no way out of the vicious cycle of homelessness and poverty. **Understanding and delving into this issue, I know that sustainable solutions to homelessness begin somewhere – anywhere, at any time and I’m glad to be able to do it through Sawhorse Revolution and GCIL.

Nghi

I grew up in Anacortes, Washington, a small town only about an hour and a half drive northwest from where I live now in Seattle. Yet it is astonishing the knowledge I gained by moving that short distance from home. Growing up, I did not realize how much of a bubble I lived in, specifically a bubble of white privilege. I am embarrassed to admit that I did not comprehend the adversity that others were facing and every time I saw an individual who was homeless, some questions ran through my head such as “why don’t they just apply for a job?” and “why do they rely on holding up signs and asking for money?”. After moving to Seattle and specifically attending the University of Washington, I was humbled by the knowledge that it is not that simple. For some people, society has hurdles in place from the time that they are born. This makes it extremely difficult to live a life without constant stress about what might happen and if everything could be taken away in a moment. We live in a country where people have to constantly worry about the availability of food, shelter, and money with not nearly enough help from others. Now, even though I have still never personally experienced what it is like to face these hardships, I will strive to use my privilege to fight for those who do not have it. The GCIL capstone project at UW has taught me that even small acts of kindness can have a positive effect on someone’s life who is living without a home. It has also taught me that it is important to stand up for these individuals, listen, and I mean really listen to what they have to say, and do what I can to create a more equitable society.

Kira

I recently watched a documentary on the devastating effects of militarization and commercialization in the state of Hawaii. It not only expanded my perspective on homelessness in the U.S., but also demonstrated the need to address the capitalist powers at play that are erasing indigenous culture and pushing native Hawaiians out of their homeland. Over 126 military installments occupy scared Hawaiian land, while resorts, corporations, and franchises have exploited what is left. With travel to Hawaii increasing exponentially over the last few decades, the local economy has become both intertwined and dependent on tourism. The documentary highlighted how sacred burial grounds have been constructed over, cultural artifacts have been exploited and used as tourist attractions, and elements of cultural identity have been stolen from the people, all for profit-none of which benefits the people of Hawaii. A devastating consequence of these commercial and economic changes is the lack of affordable housing and the resulting change in demographics on the island. The continued construction of high-end shopping centers, resorts, and luxury houses has caused housing prices across the state to skyrocket. This has made people native to Hawaii extremely vulnerable to housing insecurity and homelessness. As someone who has traveled to Hawaii as a tourist, this video made me reflect on my own privilege, ignorance, and contribution to the urgent housing issue at hand. It also makes me think about the idea that we can all be one disaster, or in this case, one stage of commercial development, away from homelessness. It is not an individual’s poor choices that subject them to homelessness, but an oppressive economy. As discussed in class, we find that urbanization, a lack of affordable housing, and wealth disparities comprise some of the upstream causes of homelessness. The accommodations we make for the wealthy and comfortable come at the expense of the vulnerable. This is yet another example of how our systems and current practices create poverty and trap marginalized groups in poverty.

Vanessa

I remember taking the bus for 75 cents to the local corner store, to the parks, and all around Seattle. The route 7 bus always had "action" going on. It runs along with Rainier and goes into Downtown. Through that 40-minute bus ride along the rainy streets of Seattle, I spent time with people that experienced homelessness. I also learned that there is not one image that could describe homelessness. There were people who experienced homeless that hopped on the bus and started talking to you. They had very interesting stories and gave the most sound advice. There were also instances where you learned to avoid eye contact and mind your own business. However, even among the business folks, there were those who were super rude. So a realization I’ve had is that there are nice and rude people in all walks of life and it was unfair that people who experienced homelessness were judged harder. Now as I ride the bus, it's two dollars and fifty cents. As it makes the way towards Soufend, South Seattle, there are more luxury apartments being built. There are white people jogging, the first sign of gentrification according to us. This is why the presentation with Gregg Colburn that discussed the housing problem really resonated with me. The cost of living is rising as well as the wealth gap. There is a huge housing issue. It is gentrifying Seattle and it makes me wonder how that affects people experiencing homelessness. It also pushes residents out of Seattle, with many a paycheck or two away from homelessness. In Othello, there’s a juxtaposition of luxury apartments being built and right across the street is New Holly neighborhood, YWCA, and Union Gospel Mission. Entities known for affordable housing, housing for women and families, and shelter/case management services. It raises the question: what is Seattle going to be like in the future? How can I help the Soufend, stay the Soufend?

Kristina

As the visibility of the homelessness has become a familiar sight, so have the conversations on the topic. In my family, nearly every car ride involves some mention of the severity of the homelessness crisis that is overwhelming my city, Portland. While I previously avoided engaging in conversations with my family because of my differing viewpoints, the more I have learned about homelessness and its root causes, particularly from a public health background, the more I have felt prepared to tackle these difficult conversations. I now realize that silence is not a good approach. Silence does not educate. Silence does not remind others to uphold the humanity in those experiencing homelessness. Silence does not get anyone anywhere. This course in particular has already taught me so much and equipped me with the language and statistics necessary to talk to my family members about the causes of homelessness and what types of systems-level solutions are necessary to adequately address the problem. Upon reflection, I have come up with a list of strategies to keep in mind while having these conversations about homelessness. Stay calm and respectful despite disagreement. Provide statistics and credible information from studies. Focus on discussing the root, systemic causes of homelessness. Remind the individual to recognize the inherent humanity of individuals experiencing homelessness. Encourage the individual to reflect on their positionality and privilege. In a meritocratic society, I recognize that we are programmed to believe that individual outcomes are a direct result of their decisions. I also recognize that “moral panic,” or exaggerated concern among the public over the morality or behavior of a particular group in society, impacts reactions to the homelessness crisis. Changing public attitudes towards individuals experiencing homelessness requires conversations, not silence, and those conversations start in our own families and communities.

Karina

This class has helped me realize the humanity behind people facing homelessness. I always had my own stereotypes and biases regarding the homeless community so I avoided them at all costs. I refused to make eye contact with them or acknowledge their presence whenever they would say hi to me due to my perceived fear. The negative stigma surrounding this vulnerable population affects the advocacy and service we can potentially provide them in an upstream and downstream level. We often see homeless people as separate from us. We have stereotyped every single homeless person we see, and categorize them into these boxes labelled as “avoid at all costs” or " a threat”. We don't see them as individual human beings; each of whom have a story to tell. When we do see them, we see their ragged clothes or their unkempt hair. We don't make an effort to see past those external and superficial traits to connect with the human being underneath.

Seattle constantly screams mantras of equity and justice for all but it seems like people experiencing homelessness are excluded from this narrative. GCIL 2021 has educated me on topics about people experiencing homelessness, and this class helped me grow out of my immature perspective on this underserved population. I no longer fear this community, but rather I treat them like any other person I would see walking down the street or the Ave: with dignity and respect. I now make a conscious effort to make eye contact and acknowledge people facing homelessness whenever I encounter them during my walks to the store or wherever. I now avoid, at all costs, saying insensitive and derogatory names or descriptors when talking about the homeless community. The city needs to do better when responding to the homeless population.

This isn’t an “us” vs. “them” issue. It is a collective effort by every Seattleite to help those who are in need of assistance. Now more than ever do we need to advocate for people facing homelessness, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our efforts can help the lives of people facing homelessness such as food/clothing drives, hygiene products donations, political activism, passing legislation to develop housing, drug rehabilitation, mental health services, or simply just start seeing them as individual human beings rather than as a collective group in order to end the negative stigma surrounding people experiencing homelessness and to start seeing their humanity.

Kirstine

Growing up, my perception towards homelessness for the most was avoidance. When I did encounter individuals experiencing homelessness at traffic light islands or sitting on sidewalks of the city, though my family did frequently offer money, it still felt like we weren't interacting with them as normal people. Like many students with immigrant parents in the class have shared, my parents often had taught my sibling and me that hard work is the key to success and that we needed to overlook the societal barriers that plagued us, like racism and prejudice, to survive and prosper. This background shaped how I view this population for years – having sympathy and wishing things were better for them, but still having prejudice when I did encounter them in person as if they could harm me or thinking they've made poor choices that could've been avoided if they had my parents' drive and will.

To share a short story of my first true encounter with a homeless individual, I was a high school student at the time volunteering at a food bank kitchen through a club I was a part of. By this point, I had interacted with a diverse population of students for numerous years and gained far more perspective on their backgrounds and obstacles they face because of poverty and discrimination due to their respective ethnicities. As I additionally had learned and became more passionate about social justice by this point, I wanted to go into the volunteer opportunity as open-minded as possible in hopes of not offending anyone and trying to treat them with humanity. From my experience, I served food and interacted with a few classmates from my school, and had an extended interaction with a Vietnam War veteran who shared his story after he took a particular interest in me being Vietnamese. While I was at first hesitant and nervous, as I wasn't expecting to interact with anyone beyond surface-level conversations, what I took away from that conversation was the importance of not being overly sympathetic when another person just wants to share a story or trivial conversation with you. I was able to learn about his experience following the war briefly, his ability to speak some Vietnamese, and how he currently was couch surfing and ended up in this area at the time. What I felt he wanted from that conversation was for someone just to listen and relate his experiences with instead of someone to pity him. Perhaps the mentality of savorism was in my mind at the time, but since that point, I strive to truly treat those I work with as equal partners and not someone to "fix" or overly sympathize with. I realized I shouldn't treat those in tougher living conditions as if they're suffering and I should give them the dignity to work with me as a partner who have far more expertise than I do in their lived experiences. I hope to carry this mindset into my future field of work as I aim to tackle environmental injustice in marginalized communities and interview homeless stakeholders for my project.

Kim

I often struggle with the “correct” thing to do when I see someone begging or asking for money. Growing up I was told not to give people money because they could spend it on drugs. The better thing to do was offer to buy them food or give them food or snacks that you had with you. I would see a person experiencing homelessness when I was walking around downtown, or at an intersection while waiting for the light to change. I learned to not look at them and avoid all eye contact so I wouldn’t engage with them. I remember when one of my older cousins came to Seattle from Norway one of my uncles showed him around town. At the end of the day, all my uncle talked about was how it took them forever to walk anywhere in downtown. The reason was because my cousin wanted to stop and talk to the people that he saw living on the street and ask them about their lives. At the time I remember thinking about how crazy that sounded to me and I was glad that I was busy that day so I wasn’t there.

This class has forced me to reevaluate everything I thought I knew about people experiencing homelessness. Most of what I was taught growing up is not true and I need to unlearn a lot of prejudices that I didn’t even know I had. I am still struggling with some issues. It’s easy for me to say that homeless encampments shouldn’t be performed, that they don’t fix anything and cause further harm to people already experiencing trauma. At the same time I ask myself how would I react if there was a row of tents on the curb outside my house? Before taking this class I don’t know what I would have done. Even now I’m not entirely sure what I would do. I like to think that I would try to be kind, talk to them and treat them like I would like to be treated, but I honestly don’t know.

Corey

My general approach to understanding things that are new to me is through research. As an engineer, my training has taught me to search for numerical descriptions of phenomenon to compare how different problems and solutions compare across contexts. This often looks like constructing flow charts to describe relationships between different parts of a system, or mapping data to understand physical meanings to abstract models and ideas. Some training in disabilities and gender studies has also taught me how to incorporate human experiences through qualitative means such as looking for common threads between interviews. They added on to my training to consider how my personal biases and desires that shape the work I pursue. Working with Facing Homelessness has provided an opportunity to combine both quantitative (numbers & measurements) and qualitative (descriptive) research into an executable solution. Yet something has still felt off.

A few weeks ago we met with University District Youth Center (UDYC) to hear their experiences as youth experiencing homelessness in the University District of Seattle. When considering how we as students plan on making our engagement with homelessness intersectional, we thought that we would need to do research on the communities and demographics impacted for a cross-sectional analysis of race and homelessness for example. UDYC took the energy to then point out to us that as students at the UW, we are part of the communities that we consider "those communities." While we had previously mentioned in the course that the the University and academia plays a rather extractive, and harmful, role in constructing homelessness as an "Other" population, we had not truly wrestled with how that should inform our methods. Empathy was stressed to better understand the experiences of people we interviewed, but the motivation behind the desire to engage nonprofits regarding housing instability is not pressed beyond a humanitarian empathy to help one another. I think this is where something felt off.

Helping can easily come with the expectation of gratitude from the person or people being helped, that using our skills and training is a charitable means of making change. Similar to developing models and extracting information from interviewees, design involves taking small scale environments as representative of the larger system. This positions small scale changes as heroic solutions to something, and when that something is considered essential to but ultimately outside the design process, (as research traditionally positions subjects relative to researchers), the communities we work with become just that: "the communities." Not "our communities" or communities that we influence and shape as neighbors.

Adi

Between my junior and senior year of undergraduate, I spent the summer volunteering on a remote island off the coast of Madagascar. As part of this program, I taught English to adults and children in local villages on several islands. This was my first long-term visit out of the country, and it truly was a culture shock. I saw firsthand the poverty of the country and the conditions in which many people live. More than 75% of the population of Madagascar lives on less than 2$ per day. The school in which we taught was a run-down building without doors or windows, most of the people on the island lived in 3 walled huts, and the children and adults we taught often came to class wearing clothes donated from other countries that fit them poorly. Another aspect of the country that sticks with me is the differences between the wealthy and the poor. While most of the local population is poor, many retired French or Italian citizens move to Madagascar and build large, luxurious compounds. Driving down the road, one can see these compounds next to shacks and truly understand the juxtaposition of wealth the country experiences.

My goal to use my technical experience to help people in need was only furthered by my experiences abroad. However, until taking this class, I always thought I should travel abroad in order to help people in worse off situations than me. I thought I needed to travel to a developing country in order to find a way I could use my technical skills to help people. However, the worlds of developing countries and low-income neighborhoods in the United States are deeply connected. One does not have to leave this country to see corruption, wealth inequality, and mistreatment of poorer citizens.

In this country, many people in power want to point to other countries as examples of developing nations. However, there are many places in the United States where the line blurs between being a developed and undeveloped country. As in Madagascar, I can be driving down the street and see poverty nestled amongst wealth. As in Madagascar, I can meet and interact with people who have been rejected by society. As in Madagascar, kindness can be as simple as acknowledging someone as a fellow human being. While separated by thousands of miles, our worlds could not be more connected.

Sam

As I was growing up, whenever my parents and I were visiting downtown Seattle to explore, I always encountered homeless people begging for money in a corner of an intersection. I remember when I was a little kid asking my dad why this person we met on the streets was homeless and I was always given the reason that he or she might have made bad decisions in their lives. However, as social media started to become a thing in my early life as a teenager, my perspective towards homeless people was often very negative because they would often portray stereotypes where they are humans who would constantly do drugs and use the money after you have given to them. In addition to that, they were also shown that one does not want to put in the effort to do anything in order to survive in America. I came from a family who came from nothing and had to be put in situations where they would have to sacrifice so many things in order to live such as putting tens of hours of work above the recommended working hours. I always thought that if my parents can come from nothing, then why can't these people on the streets do the same thing if they want to survive. The mix of social media, my personal life, and the experience that my family went through supported my negative viewpoints of homelessness.

As a grew older and met some homeless folks at my high school, I was amazed how their experiences of being homeless were significantly different from what I have heard from social media and the perspectives of other people who weren't homeless. This helped me become more open-minded about others because it shows these stereotypes are mostly not true. Even if he or she might make some bad decisions in their lives, there could be certain reasons behind why one might have taken that action. Therefore, I should not judge what they do because I do not know what he or they might have gone through to perform those actions. It definitely expanded my knowledge about the person experiencing the harsh conditions of being homeless and helped me feel more empathetic towards one more. Knowing that I realized that not everyone is fortunate enough to have similar lives as anyone else and we should not judge them for that and value them as human beings. I wished that my perspectives on homelessness weren't so influenced by social media and my personal experience because it doesn't help the situation that I may have negatively contributed and at the end of the day, no one knows what that person on the street might provide in our society.

Gary

Today, I live with the freedom and ability to pursue my life’s biggest dreams and passions, comfortably enriched in privilege and opportunity. I am the product of what came before me; the hard work, the determination, the grit. As the product of Chinese immigrants who came to this country to join the daunting restaurant industry, I owe all the opportunities that have been given to me to my ancestral family. Being raised in the tension of my family’s cultural values and the traditions of the American lifestyle that I am well accustomed to, I have fought to let my voice be heard in ways that no one would expect. I feel as if it is my sense of duty to continue the fight for Asian American representation, equality, and rights. Don't get me wrong, as we speak, I am imbedded in much privilege growing up on the Eastside suburbs of Seattle, never having to worry about the simplest necessities. But it is because of this realized privilege that I understand it has come off the backs of hard work and opportunity rooted deep in my family's history. Seeing what I have now, and knowing how little my ancestors had makes me even more eternally grateful for their grind, their journey, and their humble lifestyle.

As a product of immigrants, everything in life has been earned, and worked for. Now knowing this, helps me develop a natural sympathy and compassion for those going through the same struggles. As it relates, I understand that those experiencing homelessness are struggling potentially even worse than my ancestors were. My gratefulness turned sympathy has now formed into a passion into giving these communities a voice.

In all honesty, previously my judgement of those experiencing homelessness was driven by societal stigmas and my pre-conceived notions of who these individuals are, and what they did to get to their current situation. After taking several public health classes like GCIL and talking to my Scofflaw Mitigation mentor, Jenn, my perspective has changed, and my judgment is gone. I now understand that those experiencing homeless could have gotten into their current situation in a variety of ways, many of which were not in their control. Knowing the struggle of what my ancestors had to go to, and seeing the struggles that the community experiencing homelessness goes through grows my heart even bigger for change.

Evan

At the very beginning of Spring quarter, my housemates and I noticed a car parked right in front of our house that hadn't moved in two weeks. We also noticed that a kid was always working under its hood. One day, we got a knock on the door from this kid who asked us if we could help him jump his car. His name is Isaac, and he's 16. He ran away from foster care and lives in his car and in a tent under I-5 with some of his family. Since then, we help Isaac out almost everyday; doing his laundry, giving him food or drinks, giving him cash, and even just talking with him. He's been through a lot in his life, but it can be hard to have him also unload his trauma onto us everyday. I've been reflecting on how to set boundaries with him, but it's very hard when I don't want him to feel rejected by us; he's been rejected by almost everything in his life.

Simultaneously around this time, I was paired with the Scofflaw Mitigation Team for this course, and got talking with Jenn about this individuals who seemed to be living in his car. The coincidental timing of this all seemed bizarre and truly an act of fate. I was able to connect Jenn with Isaac, who has gotten him a phone, a new car battery and alternator, and a connection to a mechanic. We also got his parking tickets paid off. His car is still not up and running, but I truly think that his car would be towed right now without the help of Jenn. Isaac will be connected with U-District resources and has already acted much happier and more motivated to get things done.

It truly only takes a small amount of help to get someone back on their feet. Just making Isaac feel accepted and like he could ask for help from us has been powerful for his sense of well-being. I cannot thank the Scofflaw Mitigation Team and Jenn enough for helping Isaac out. This course and this experience has been more eye-opening about individuals living in their cars and how to help than any academic report or documentary. Close to home experiences have truly given me a deep sense of the importance of empathy in community-based work.

Sydney

As I sit here reflecting on the past several weeks of this quarter, I can't help but address the huge change in my attitude about homelessness in Seattle. In the first week or two of this course I found myself sitting with feelings of anger and disappointment that those in power have chosen to avoid adequately addressing the housing crisis. I work night shift in the ER at Northwest Hospital and frequently see patients coming in because they have no where else to go to escape the cold. This is a visible sign that our current systems (both housing and healthcare) have failed. Though it was sad, would constantly believe that "this is just the way things are."

After working closely with my team, and hearing the progress of other teams, I am left feeling hopeful. I am feeling hopeful because I am (virtually) surrounded by several people who have been given an opportunity to make a difference and are actually choosing to.

These people have served as a nice little reminder for myself that though it is not always visible, there are always people working toward doing what is right. Even though it is easy for me to get overwhelmed thinking of the massive scale of the homelessness crisis in Seattle, I reflect on the little bits of progress each of our teams have made and feel at ease. Though I know we (as a city and nation) have a long way to go before we can ensure people secure access to permanent housing, it is comforting that we seem to be moving in the right direction.

Natalie

I am a Civil Engineering Senior who doesn’t enjoy his major, which is something that I discovered a bit too late. I will be going to graduate school for business, which is where I’ve discovered my interests really lie. To be honest, I enrolled in this class as I did not want to enroll in a capstone that required a lot of technical Civil Engineering knowledge. I am glad I made this decision because this class has changed my perspectives and views about a lot of things in important ways, which I did not expect.

I am now more cognizant of the importance of contributing to society. To start with, the satisfaction I got from helping people through the means of the 5$ challenge was immense, and the fact that the work we’re doing can have a real-life impact has given me much more motivation to contribute than I normally would’ve had.

As many talked about in earlier blogs, I too had problematic views about those experiencing homelessness- looking at it as a product of drug abuse and laziness. Hearing the instructors and guest speakers talking about this topic began to change my impression. However, my perception fully changed when I heard my teammates talk about their conversations with those who had experienced homelessness previously and my discourses with the staff of Facing Homelessness (the organization my team is working with).

Earlier, my sole goal was to do work that can enable me to gain more resources and attain a better lifestyle. This class has inspired me to do work that can uplift the disadvantaged and has motivated me to change the perceptions that those around me have with regards to homelessness.

AJ

I took the long way home from work yesterday, biking by the water on south campus instead of heading north to my old yellow house that I share with five others. The sun demanded my attention. School could wait another hour, or three. Standing in the quiet next to the lake with dappled glimmers of sunlight hurting my eyes, the stirring voices in my head quickly settled. Much like a biology class in Kane Hall, the jumble of voices and echoes faded out as the loudest one began speaking.

This year has required us all to reflect on how we spend our spare hours and minutes. I myself have acquired a baseline sense of boredom that hasn't quite left. However, if I have gained anything at all, I can sit so comfortably now in my own thoughts. I feel like an old friend and it's funny that we don't feel that way all the time.

As the sailboats and crew shells floated by I thought more of the upcoming months and the changes that are coming. From my time in GCIL: Seattle so far, I have gained a new perspective on time. For people experiencing homelessness, one day can feel so much longer than it does for those who are housed. However, for these same people, years can soon pass. For those of us who are currently housing secure we have a different option; we can bend time to fit our needs. If I really need to fill an hour or two, I can open TikTok and enter its comforting hypnosis that we all know about but are afraid to admit. On a sunny day like yesterday I can ride my bike to the water and standing next to the safety of Ivar’s Fish Bar contemplate the future. I can then go home and make lunch and do it all again if I wanted to. These are abilities that housing insecure people are not awarded. I find myself not only incredibly grateful for a home, but the ability to spend my time as I wish.

Moving forward, when life feels busy, this reminder to stay present and not wish away the hours gives me peace. I am grateful for GCIL and the voices elevated in this space to remind us that how we spend our days is how we spend our lives. I hope I can use my days in Public Health to help others spend their days how they please, too.

Mary Fudge

Much of environmental engineering focusses on air and water quality. In our courses we often include a discussion about the societal and equity contexts for a given case study. Typically, individuals of lower socioeconomic status and or people of color disproportionately experience lower quality water and air than other groups. This has to do with the locations of polluting sites such as factories releasing industrial discharge into waterways or refineries polluting the air for example. In all of our discussions throughout my course work, we have never identified the impacts of air and water quality on the houseless community, the folks that are truly most vulnerable.

Last summer I was back home in the Bay Area and witnessed some of the worst air quality conditions due to the raging wild fires. As a housed individual, I had the privilege along with all others who are sheltered to get away from the dangerous levels of particulates in the air while those folks living outside had no way to escape. Additionally, in the United States and much of the developed world people take for granted the ease of accesses to potable water. The fact that those experiencing homelessness have to depend on public places to access water is quite the contrast to those who are housed. The fact that water is needed to not only drink, to bathe, to cook along with countless other daily activities. How are those individuals experiencing homelessness suppose to function at the same capacity of those who are sheltered if they don't have basic necessities such as running water or electricity?

Caitlin

We live in a world full of assumptions. There are people that assume that the U.S is the greatest country in the world, granting all of its citizens a plethora of individual freedoms and always standing up for what is right. There are people that assume racism died when slavery was abolished. There are people that assume homelessness is a choice. All of these assumptions were created very easily as all that was required was for one to stop looking any further and switch off their attention. While some assumptions can be helpful and productive, many assumptions, like the ones previously mentioned, are extremely damaging as they stem from a great lack of knowledge and simultaneously construct a reality that doesn’t reflect what’s actually currently happening.

It’s week 7 of my group’s work with Facing Homelessness and the idea and presence of assumption has become apparent to me. Now that my group has gotten the opportunity to speak with two residents via Zoom interviews and taken the time to go through resident surveys from December of 2020 taken by the Facing Homelessness staff, I am realizing that some assumptions have been made about what residents of these BLOCK homes want and need. In this situation, unlike most, the assumptions are coming from a good place with good intentions. Even so, it has been assumed that the residents of the BLOCK homes want more social interaction in order to be more connected to their community. While this is the case for a few of the residents, many of the other residents have actually expressed disliking mandatory events and how they value their independence. Many have also expressed that is is not actually a need for more community they want, but a desire for greater access to resources around their neighborhood.

The original conclusions about what the residents of the BLOCK homes want and need weren't entirely wrong. They did, however, generalize the desires of a few residents to all the residents and were trying to solve a problem with only a few correct pieces of the puzzle. They were missing the piece that each of the residents are unique people with distinct personalities, goals, dreams, and opinions. What works for one resident may not necessarily work for another. It’s important that we are giving those facing housing insecurity a chance for their voice to be heard because oftentimes, their voices are disregarded in society. With only 1 in 10 people facing housing insecurity voting in U.S elections, what is best for their individual circumstances is overlooked by what is assumed to be best for them as a collective group. Generalizations often turn into stereotypes which can lead to prejudice and discrimination. Once we stop lumping people together and see them as individuals instead of being part of a distinct group, we can begin to understand people better and breakdown barriers of judgement and hate.

Taylor

I am graduating college in a month and am really struggling thinking about the upcoming adjustment. All of college I have had such high hopes as I have gone through my public health courses, learning about the health inequities that are occurring within the United States and globally, I was determined and motivated to make changes. I have begun the law school application process and have the goal of working on the policy side of health to create changes to our healthcare system. The hard thing that I have really been realizing this year and especially in this class, is that intentions are great and all but the inequities that persist in our society are extremely structural and systematic and cannot be changed just because one girl wants them to.

Writing this, of course I know that it is ignorant to just assume that one person can change so much because if it was simple, it would already have been done. Growing up, I was taught that I can do anything and be anyone I wanted to, and I think it is hard for me to come to terms with the fact that having great intentions for myself and my work is one thing, but another is actually doing the work and getting it done. In so many of my previous classes I learned about these major problems in healthcare and justice and we were taught frameworks on how to evaluate the issue, but we did not often look at ways of approaching these inequities to improve health and justice outcomes. This course has challenged me and allowed me to evaluate and then re-evaluate my ideas and solutions to challenges and then come up with new ideas for a solution and for that I am thankful.

Cailin

I have noticed that there is a lack of education on social inequalities and marginalized groups when obtaining my Civil Engineering degree. In the first two years of college, I did not have much room to explore other interests but was rather stuck in all of the prerequisites in order to get into the major. For the last two years, this was also the case with many required classes and not much academic freedom. There are a few classes offered by the College of Civil Engineering that are optional to students that really focus on educating those about the people we are building infrastructure for: CEE 416 (Freight and People), CEE 420 (Engineering in developing communities), and this class (if one chooses to opt out of a traditional civil capstone class). Lately I have been asking myself: why isn’t it mandatory for future engineers to learn about underrepresented and marginalized groups? How can we be great engineers and create equitable and inclusive systems if we don’t listen to the people’s perspectives and stories? Overall, I think that all engineers should hear the voices that they are building for and that it is highly important to remember to humanize the infrastructure projects we work on. It is not the jobs of marginalized groups to educate us, we must educate ourselves to create better infrastructure as professionals.

This class has allowed me to gain more perspective and recognize the humanity of those experiencing homelessness. Through the guest speakers, readings, and interactions with the folks of bridge care, this quarter has already challenged my thinking and existing knowledge of people experiencing homelessness. This class has really inspired me to alter the route of my future professional career and to hop into working more for underrepresented populations as an engineer and as well as being more self aware in my own personal actions and how they can affect those who are houseless.

Cassie

I'm sure others are in a similar boat but in this last quarter of undergrad, as I'm dealing with senioritis, existential dread, a multitude of feelings related to isolation as we continue to live through a global pandemic and are about to be thrown head first into a highly competitive job market, I find it increasingly difficult to place my focus on school. These feelings are also exacerbated by the ongoing structural violence which targets the Black population, which I am a part of, as well as those with low-income who are struggling as cost of living is rising and affordable housing is sparse. While I have always loved school and classroom-based learning, it simply does not feel genuinely important to me as there is so much ongoing tragedy and violence against members of our various communities. So much change that needs to be facilitated in order to save lives and improve quality of life. Don't worry, I have no plans to drop out with only two weeks left to go or anything after paying all of this tuition, but I have found my headspace so cluttered with these many harsh realities throughout the entirety of this quarter, which has forced me to adapt a very head just above water type of approach to school which was foreign to me until now. I know that sooner or later I'll end back up in higher education but in the meantime GCIL has been a huge indicator for me that I am more than eager and ready to do some work on the ground, striving to enact change not just in theory, but action.

Anya

As most of us here know, living through a pandemic is no joke. We are forced to spend countless hours staring at a screen, doing our schooling with our entire family being enclosed, and some of us have even lost family and friends to COVID-19. The world seemed to turn upside down during 2020, and even a year later, we are still struggling. However, as summer approaches us, a beacon appears to be on the horizon. Vaccines are becoming a lot more accessible, and even new CDC guidelines tell us we no longer have to wear a mask if we are fully vaccinated. While people are excited to throw their masks away and go out and socialize like never before, we must take time to understand how there are still precautions that need to be taken and how our actions can impact disadvantaged communities.

To begin, in the case of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, one is not fully vaccinated until two weeks after their second dose. There have been countless cases of people believing they are fully protected and socializing only to end up catching the virus. Secondly, not everyone has the equal opportunity to get vaccinated. Many low-income individuals can't afford to take time off work to go to their appointments, and many more don't want to get vaccinated because they are fearful their symptoms will make them call into work. If giving these communities a little bit more time to get vaccinated ends up helping them out, then waiting a few more weeks isn't too much of a price.

In addition, throughout this entire pandemic, there have been people who never followed any guidelines and for us to trust the honor code that they are vaccinated seems a little silly. So be aware of the risk when entering a business that doesn't have any guidelines in place. One can say one thing, but their actions can say another. Also, one should know that even if the mask mandate is lifted, businesses still have the right to deny you access if you don't wear one. They want to protect their workers, and we should be respectful of that.

While I'm no professional, and I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life, I do ask you to be compassionate to others during these uncertain times. I know we want to go back to normal, but COVID has changed everything, and a lot is still unknown. In my opinion, it would be better if we act cautiously instead of recklessly. We have already lost too many lives in this pandemic; let's try to limit the numbers as much as possible.

Dilsia

Three weeks from today I will officially be done with undergrad. I am confident that this time is going to fly by no matter how hard I try to slow down and savor it (not a particularly honed skill of mine- it really feels like I got behind sometime during winter quarter of freshman year and never truly caught up). Though, in many ways, I have been thankful to watch time pass by quickly in the past year. Like so many others, this past year has been the worst year of my life in a multitude of ways. I spent most of it feeling anxious and disappointed and sad and completely disconnected from my studies. I will spare you all the weird details, but let’s just say the combination of Global Pandemic and Huge Family Drama does not forge a whole lot of excitement about online school.

However, I also spent a surprising amount of time feeling exceptionally grateful. It’s funny how loss can so often shed light on how much you still have. Working with the Scofflaw Mitigation team has helped time and school feel a bit more real in this year that has felt the opposite. We are working with real people, who genuinely want to hear our ideas and see if we can help their situation. It doesn’t feel like an assignment I have to power through so I can pass- it truly feels like we have built a connection and may actually be able to make life easier for members of the Scofflaw team. I have already learned so much from Jenn and her partners and I am very grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with them in my last quarter, and for the chance to take away something valuable from my last year of school.

Mary  Gregorich

I've been in a battle lately with myself about how much of my future I want to/can devote to truly helping others. I am starting dental school this fall. I initially wanted to be a dentist because I wanted to promote/be a source of access to oral health for populations that face the most barriers to access, like the homeless community. However, lately the reality of that seems very far and difficult. Im even thinking, is it possible?

Here is an example: Most dentists don't take medicaid, and reality of that is that the reimbursement rates are very low, which makes it seem like a "loss" for dentists to spend time caring for Medicaid/uninsured patients when in that same time they could be caring for someone who's insurance will pay better. I say that this is in itself a problematic viewpoint by dentists, where the current culture is very financially orientated and not care oriented. However, we can't ignore the fact that policy plays a huge role is creating this dilemma, and this fast-paced money-oriented capitalist society that we live in also contributes. The healthcare system is messed up.

The first time that I mentioned my passion to provide care for the uninsured and the most vulnerable to a dentist, he laughed. I was upset at this interaction at that time, but now, looking at the price of dental school itself being upwards of $400,000, I see that this is reality. In order to pursue my passions, I will have to go against many, if not all odds, including my own financial gain. I don't want to lose my passions as I delve more deeper into my career, but currently, I'm not sure how to do that. Being in this class and continuing to remind myself about my passions is something that I've been doing lately, which I hope will last me awhile.

Hana

Recently I’ve been in a somewhat philosophical dilemma and that dilemma is that I don’t really know what I care about or more specifically what does it even mean to care about something outside of yourself. The least confusing way I can describe this is this way, if someone really wants to do something then they’ll put effort into doing that because they care about it but if someone is always says they want to do something but never ends up doing that something does that mean they never really cared about it or never really wanted to do it in the first place? I keep thinking about this question because there are a lot of issues that I say I care about but if I don’t do anything about those issues whether it’s donating my money or my time, do I really care about those issues or am I just saying and internalizing I care because I know it’s the acceptable societal response. I would say at most I’ve voted for people that I thought could bring about change to issues that I care about but does voting alone mean that I care even if it doesn’t change the issue? I think everyone has their own personal understanding of what it means to care, and I think I’m revaluating what it means to me. It’s a weird feeling questioning if I care about issues that I feel like I do and should care about but that’s where I find myself.

Bryce

enrolled in engineering partly in hopes that it would arm me with the tools to be self-sufficient. I figured, and honestly continue to figure, that if my dreams of building beautiful, historic structures fall through, or if something catastrophic happened, that I could at least build myself and my family a home somewhere that we could be happy. This class has really hammered into my brain the importance of having a home, and has simplified an issue that I heard about a lot but knew nothing about (THE HOMLESSNESS CRISIS) down to a basic human right not being available to the most vulnerable members of our society. I cannot express how important it has been to hear the experiences of former living homeless and to learn about some of the factors that build insurmountable obstacles for stable housing. This class, along with other life moments and thoughts this past spring, has brought permanent shelter to my short list of fundamental human rights, and I know that this will stay with me forever.

Sara

Nonprofits are, without a doubt, some of the most altruistic systems that are set in place in our society; they are an extension of empathy, and they protect people when they are at their most vulnerable state. They help people who are unhoused or having economic, social, and health hardships get back on their feet by providing life-saving shelter, food, resources, etc. Working closely with the Bridge Care Center and hearing about other nonprofits that this class is working with has given me a sense of hope and trust in that there are people out there who truly care about others, however, the work cannot stop there. There are still people who are not able to live safely and at peace, even with the thousands of nonprofits that exist. Only so many people can be helped by these types of band-aid solutions. Knowing this, we can easily point to an institutional failure; it is not just about a lack of kindness or a shortage of nonprofits in our country. Without true upstream and systemic change, our long list of nonprofits is merely patchwork that still lets people fall through the cracks, which is not sustainable if we are really trying to help vulnerable communities. We should not have to rely on caring hearts and generous donors to protect our people; it should be inherent in our society. I, and many others, dream of a world where foundations of interdependence and accessibility are already built into the way we function as a community, not confined to the one-off extensions of people’s kindness.

Lexi

Working with Facing Homelessness has opened my eyes to the importance of computer literacy in today’s society. Throughout this quarter, I have seen some of my group-mates utilize programs or skills that I had never used before. The ability to create and manipulate maps, design websites, and create spaces for communication have been integral to our brainstorming process and prototyping. With the help of these programs, we were able to grasp the scope of our issue and visualize the community we are here to help. On one hand, it’s been really amazing to see what knowledge and experience everyone has been able to bring to the table. But on the other hand, I find myself reflecting on the tools we use, the solutions that we have created, and their potential among the greater population of people experiencing homelessness.

To create a greater sense of community among residents of the Facing Homelessness Block Project, we have created a website that serves as a hub for Block Project residents. There they can easily access resource maps catered to their neighborhoods, community opportunities, contact information, and notably a tutorial on how to use the messaging platform, GroupMe, to connect with other residents. Of course, this solution is highly specific to our organization and the handful of residents living in the Block homes. However, it made me think about how the Block Project community has consistent access to phones and internet, but many other communities do not, despite accessing similar services.

Resources are often compiled on pamphlets, posters, or websites. Sometimes people obtain them through case managers, word-of-mouth, etc. But across these services, there is the potential for technological barriers at every level of communication. Local support organizations may have a physical space where they hand-out food, clothing, or equipment. But when it comes to government assistance and less physically accessible programs (food stamps, unemployment, disability, etc), people need the technology and computer literacy to complete lengthy applications, stay updated on their accounts, or ask for help. Given how services are designed today, you need to be proficient at the most “basic” level. At this rate, I see it being increasingly difficult for people experiencing homelessness to access services when more and more services are becoming automated and making online transitions. In this context, a greater reliance on technology further isolates these individuals, making it increasingly likely that people get left behind.

Vanessa

It can be so annoying to be wrong. When someone corrects you, you are forced to make a quick decision between your pride and self-improvement, where the latter is far less comfortable. Admitting your own mistake requires a vulnerability that I find can be very difficult to choose.

However, I am learning that just past this initial discomfort is a truly wonderful opportunity for growth. College is all about growing and learning, and a big part of that for me has been accepting the shortcomings we all have and listening when people have thoughtful criticism.

This spring I began going to an MMA gym, and I have never been humbled so fast. I immediately loved going, although each day I had to remind myself that it was perfectly fine to be the worst person in a class. While starting this, I was getting additional lessons in being wrong through GCIL. In GCIL, we are constantly encountering new perspectives and opinions, many of which challenge my preconceived notions of the world. In both contexts, I have frequently found myself in groups of people that all have many things to teach me – whether that be how to properly execute a move or educating me about an issue regarding homelessness.

Through all these growing pains, I feel myself beginning to be okay with being the least knowledgeable person in a given room (although don’t get me wrong – I still prefer to be right). I suppose this blog post, while primarily about my own hang-ups with knowing everything, is also a thank you to all of you from GCIL that have helped me understand the world a bit better.

Emelina

The title of this blog comes from my favorite childhood novel titled, The Mysterious Benedict Society. It refers to the students learning this phrase with no idea what it means. Later on, they find out that phrases have secret meanings within it and can even have multiple meanings. These messages were being broadcasted and only children could understand their meaning. This particular phrase refers, obviously, to an apple. On the outside, the apple looks perfectly round and perfectly red. However, on the inside, it’s rotting and the book ties it into how the government and institutions can be deceiving.

Spoiler alert: The kids go on to save the world from evil and change parts of the government. As a child reading this, this made me giddy. As a generation that read this book, Harry Potter, and Hunger Games, I grew up to think that I could be a hero. I thought adults were so complacent in these worlds. Now that I am an adult, I see how complicated things are. The world is indeed a poison apple. However, that doesn’t mean I have to be complacent. I don’t see myself as a hero by any means but I hope to tap into that inner child and make a change in the world. The book was also scarily accurate about how certain phrases can mean something sinister such as “War on Drugs” or neutral languages addressing housing insecurity. Through this course, it has taught me how various systems have failed to address housing insecurity and Twitter has shown me the power of the media. We should not grow up and be like those adults in the books but instead, carry that inner child in us and develop critical thinking.

Kristina

Something that has been going through my mind lately is when is late considered too late? I get that there are times when things can be pushed back because simply we are too busy or something unexpected comes up – but in doing so, will the things we initially wanted to accomplish be too late? For me, this pandemic experience was homework can wait until later, I can zoom call my friends later, I can spend time with my family later. This is all based on the assumption that I have time later, but what if that was not the case?

A couple of days ago my great uncle unexpectedly passed. The best we could do was watch his cremation via Facebook from 7,156 miles away. A couple of years before, he had wished my family come and visit because he wanted a family reunion. The first summer we pushed it back because of financial reasons, the second summer it was because I had to do an internship, the third summer was because my parents had extra working hours – you get the idea, so on and so forth for nearly a decade. By the time we wanted to go, COVID-19 hit – borders were closed and plane tickets quadrupled. In these instances, we really could not go. We thought about the other summers where we could have squeezed in some time to see the people who matter most to us. With this said, there is a slight hint of guilt and regret of not being able to do so which also opened my eyes to living life in the present and not assume time is timeless.

Excuse the tangent to the story but tying back to GCIL, I appreciate that this course forces me to brainstorm solutions to homelessness rather than thinking I can volunteer for a homeless advocacy group once I graduate or join a cause later when I have time.

Disclaimer that this is my personal opinion and I understand that time and timing is different for everyone so let me know what you think about this.

Nghi

During my time in the Grand Challenges Impact Lab capstone, I have been working with the organization Facing Homelessness to create a stronger and more resilient sense of community among the individuals that they have the pleasure of working with. Within the first several weeks of project development, our mentor Liana expressed that it was not only those who live in the BLOCK Project tiny homes who needed this sense of community, but also those who are unsheltered that utilize the Window of Kindness for access to food and supplies. Through our interview process, however, we learned that for these individuals, the immediate sense of community was strong but with little access to internet and phone use, they were missing communication with friends and family who lived far away.

Continuing on the topic of access to phones, wifi, and computers, it became apparent that although a significant issue, lack of communication with friends and family was not the only problem caused by not having access to these resources. It becomes difficult to realize how much of the world exists within technology when you are privileged enough to have a phone and laptop within arm’s reach throughout the day. It took hearing the struggles of the individuals at the Window of Kindness to help me come to this realization.

Our government provides help in the form of social security income, publicly funded health insurance, the SNAP program, and more, but learning about and applying to these resources requires either a phone or computer as well as internet access. This raises the question, how do you apply for help without access to support? There are options such as Lifeline, which provides phones at a greatly reduced cost, but again, a phone or computer is needed to access these options in the first place. Finally, this leads to the question of public libraries or other locations where there is public access to these resources. The issue here is that most of these locations are closed during the pandemic and in order to figure out what is open and where it is located… you guessed it! You need access to a phone or computer. With a society that relies so much on technology, how can those who are disadvantaged gain the support they need?

Kira

Microsoft Teams saved me six months of my life. A few months ago, I thought I would complete my undergraduate degree in December. While that was an accomplishment on its own since I only started in Autumn 2019, the reality was that I was being kept in school for an extra quarter because of one remaining class requirement. Until a notification email from Microsoft Teams prompted me to download the app to check it out for the first time. This action changed everything. While my advisors never communicated it with me, through the Public Health major’s Microsoft Teams advising channel, I learned that unique exceptions were being made which would allow me to complete the requirement and graduate 6 months earlier than planned.

Now, you may be wondering why I am talking about Microsoft Teams so much, but it just so happens that my group’s project for GCIL is all about Microsoft Teams. Talk about a story to convince people that Microsoft Teams can change their lives…it literally changed mine!

The way Microsoft Teams impacted my life reminds me that everything we do has a ripple effect. The notification I received was because another student posted something, and the way I learned of the exception was because another student asked a question. We are all truly interconnected.

I am sure that the work we are all doing with our organizations will create an impact that will outlast our projects. Each of us being in this class has had a ripple effect already, as the ideas, feedback, and reflections that have been shared ultimately impacted the reflections and work of our classmates. As humans, communication is crucial in sharing information, expressing ourselves, and building relationships. Since face-to-face communication is not always possible, applications like Microsoft Teams are powerful tools. I was already a Microsoft Teams fan because of how it impacted me, and my GCIL project has only reaffirmed my belief in its power.

Karina

I'm sure we are all in similar situations when I say that I am 1 week away from graduating college, and the future seems unpredictable and scary. I feel like a common feeling anxiety is formed when worrying about the future especially when it comes to grad school applications or job searches. However, recently I have noticed myself straying away from this common anxiety and have found my mind wrapped up in a new worry. My mind is in an extremely sentimental state, and I feel anxious when thinking about the past.

When I look back on the last 4 years, I actually feel a little bit anxious, wondering, "did I do everything I possibly could to give myself the best experience" or "is there anything I wish I could have changed, any regrets?". These were clearly the most impactful and best 4 years of my life, and again, it makes me anxious to think that starting two weeks from now, I must leave all this behind and start the next chapter of my life.

Although I will be starting grad school next year, I am thinking that my experiences will not compare to what I had at UW. It sounds cliche, but I am quickly learning that I need to be okay with change, and I need to be able to process the end of a significant period in my life.

Evan

I was 20 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, and now I will be turning 22 in just a little over a month…still in a pandemic. Although the vaccines have allowed the US to slowly start opening up I cannot help but feel anxious about human interaction again. Don't get me wrong, I miss going to college lectures and movie theaters…or fearlessly going inside an indoor space without worrying about catching a virus that has caused so much global turmoil. This pandemic has taught me to be friends with myself. I learned so much about my strengths and weaknesses during my times of solitude. I am having a clearer understanding of things I need to work on, and things I can be proud of about myself.

I now enjoy my alone time, and I have rekindled my relationship with my past hobbies like painting and reading. Most nights I don't mind just having just a night-in with myself while watching a movie with some takeout. I have learned to slow down, ground myself, and be more present at the moment. I also have a new appreciation for human interaction. I never realized how much we all heavily relied on each other for basic human elements like companionship, connection, and comfort. I now make a conscious effort to not take the people I care about the most for granted. As I enter my early 20's with so much uncertainty and disorder in the world, I am thankful to have spent time with myself and to really get to know "me" at a deeper level. I now understand the true meaning of "self love" and "self care", and they both feel pretty great.

Kirstine

This is my last quarter at UW. I have put off thinking about what that means all year. Multiple people have asked me how I feel about being done with school. Every time I have responded that I’m trying not to think about it because I want to stay focused on my classes. I have made it to the end of the quarter and I still don’t know how I feel about graduating. I know I will be glad to not be in zoom lectures five days a week, but other than that I’m still processing. Part of the reason I have put off thinking about graduation is I wanted to be able to give as much focus as I could to this class. I am a part of the safe parking group and it has somehow been very different than what I expected and at the same time, exactly what I expected. Our problem statement changed in our first meeting with our advisors and totally change the work I thought we would be helping with. Even with the change in project scope I have found the work I have done this quarter rewarding and very different from any other class at UW. My biggest challenge with this class has been trying to take the knowledge gained in lectures and applying it to my life. My parents are doing some construction in their backyard. As part of the project they have been renting a portable toilet for the construction workers. This past week a person sat inside the toilet for about six hours. After he left they said they didn’t mind the toilet being open to anyone who wanted to use it, but they were worried about someone throwing trash in the toilet and causing my parents to be charged by the company they are renting from. I’ve thought about that incident since it happened and I’m still not sure what the “correct” thing to do is, which really bothers me at an engineer. I don’t know if there is a correct thing to do in that situation. I don’t know if there is a way for an individual person to help in that situation. The problem of homelessness is so much bigger than me. I don’t always have the answer, I’m still learning, and that is okay.

Corey

Over the past year much of society has been forced to stay in their homes in order to combat a worldwide pandemic. Although many individuals understood this quarantine was a necessary step in fighting back against the pandemic, it did not stop them from finding the situation inconvenient and monotonous. After the weeks turned into months and the months turned into a year I began holding these same sentiments towards quarantine, hoping that it would end soon and that life would go back to the way it was.

Fast forward to spring quarter and GCIL-Seattle where I began to learn more deeply about the many issues and problems that individuals facing homelessness experienced. I realized that many of these issues that these individuals faced were further exacerbated by the difficulties that the pandemic brought. Before the pandemic individuals may have already had a hard time finding the services they needed and now all the rules and regulations of the pandemic have made it even harder to obtain those services. Throughout my time in GCIL I tried to imagine what it would be like experiencing homelessness during a pandemic and compared it to what I personally experienced and recognized the many hidden privileges that I held.

The most stark contrast I discerned while empathizing with the homeless population is the availability of a safe space, whether it be to quarantine or to just spend free time. During the pandemic I saw many individuals express how many quarantine regulations were a breach of individual rights, and even somewhat agreed with some of these sentiments. Yet after taking the perspective of an individual experiencing homelessness I realized how much of a privilege quarantine really was. Many individuals including myself take for granted being fortunate enough to have a safe home away from the problems of the pandemic. Meanwhile individuals facing homelessness during this time are forced to brave the pandemic with no safe place to easily go back to.

Through this reflection I was able to recognize the privilege that I held during the pandemic and allowed me to realize that there are individuals who probably wish they were in the same position that I am in. This allowed me to further understand the trials and tribulations of the homeless population and to not take things for granted.

Tommy

As we go in our tenth week and finishing up this quarter, I'm sure we're all glad that we got over this rough school year and as a result, most of us want to relax or chill during the summer. However, this does not mean that we can never stop learning as soon as some of us will graduate or pursue more school. There are always opportunities to take in order to further invest in our career to become successful.

In this class, I took the opportunity to learn about the different perspectives of homelessness and helped get a grasp to be aware of how people got into those types of situations. This helped me become more open-minded and empathetic towards others who haven't given the same chance as me to live in this world. I am a bit sad this class has to come to an end but it does not mean that I cannot learn anything like this outside of school. I can always gather and learn from other people's experiences which can help me develop a bigger perspective on the topic. As a curious person, this will not stop me from learning and can use this to think about throughout my career.

Again, I appreciate taking this opportunity to be a part of GCIL with the help of professors and mentors for taking the time to discuss and making impacts on our community to make it better

Gary

Been thinking more recently about what is next. There is a greater demand for more interdisciplinary efforts in engineering and doing work that we have done in GCIL to a greater extent, but it is still a niche field. So I wanted to take a moment and think more about how CEE connects with Homelessness further (within climate change since that is where I mostly focus).

As the weather gets hotter, I can feel the fire season coming. Numerous air pollution studies as Julian highlighted are discussing how marginalized populations are spatially impacted by pollution, but think it is worth considering how housing provides safety regarding the smoke and what long term exposure can do. This feels not only relevant to public health, but also to civil and environmental as we consider how housing and filtration provides pollution protection.

It appears that there is a slow movement in the eye of the public to recognizing how climate change is happening now beyond sea level rise, but think it's still considered an impact outside metropolitan areas. A major problem in WA is a lack of water storage during dry periods creating water scarcity (we effectively rely on the mountain snow to slowly release water right now, but because of the elevation of our mountains, less water will fall as snow and instead be rain). Considering this moves humane policy movements beyond sheltering people experiencing homelessness from not only smoke and heat exhaustion, but also water equity and who will have access when water managers are designing rations? How can people with vehicle residencies cope as temperatures get hotter and running AC is not cost effective for them.

While I do not mean to increase stress in an already stressful time, I feel that it is important to consider how the circumstances that people experiencing homelessness face is not constant and will continue to get worse beyond the social stigmas we have examined. I appreciate this course challenging who we consider part of our community, and hope we can continue to push this in the coming years.

Adi

From growing up in a suburb of San Francisco I have seen the scale of the unhoused community both there and now after being a resident in Seattle. Empathy is my number one value and that has driven my passion for solidarity with our fellow unhoused members. In my own efforts, I have donated to various mutual aid programs to help provide shelter or materials to keep folks warm. While I know that any amount I can spare to help an initiative that is directly benefiting members of the community, I believe that the true barrier society faces is the perception of individuals experiencing homelessness.

Through this course thus far, I have been most captivated about learning about the policy behind different obstacles members of the unhoused community are facing. When I first heard Jenn Adams speak during class, I was moved by her account of the perception by society of homeless individuals. Truly I think amplifying the voices of members of our community who are unhoused is crucial along with empathy from the housed community is necessary to end the de-humanization of those facing homelessness.

As an environmental engineer, I was excited to see this was the topic for the special topics capstone. Being able to engage with the community, organizations, and students from both the public health and engineering schools is an opportunity I knew I had to take. In order to adequately address the increasing rates of unhoused individuals the intersection of policy, engineering, and public health is needed.

Caitlin

I had always known that I wanted to choose a career that would directly impact the public in a positive light. Having been surrounded by family members who were engineers, I thought really thought that engineering was the best route for me. Yeah sure, I enjoyed math and science in high school so I went along with. Looking back at my first three years of my undergraduate career I found myself absent mindlessly wandering through general classes and just being content with whatever major admitted me in. I really was not passionate with what I was doing and learning in class but was trying really hard to convince myself otherwise.

I keep joking around with my peers that FINALLY, on my last quarter of college, I actually find myself interested and passionate about what I am learning and doing in the classes that I am taking. As cool as it was to learn about bridges and how to construct them/calculate the forces on them, for me, it is much more interesting learning about what different kinds of people have to experience on a day to day basis and how to become more aware and empathetic. I am currently taking GCIL and as well as an Engineering in Developing Communities class and really do believe that these classes will allow me to become a better engineer. And by saying this, I mean that there it is so important as an engineer to learn about different communities in order to build equitable and inclusive infrastructure for all.

Just within the two weeks of this quarter, I have learned so much about the housing crisis here in the US and as well as in other countries. This quarter has already challenged my thinking and existing knowledge of people experiencing homelessness. Though these projects that we will be working on in this class are very different from what I am used to, I am very excited to challenge myself and allow myself to become more open minded and a well rounded engineer. And very excited to see how these classes will alter my future in my professional career.

Cassie

I am majoring in public health and thus have taken many many courses about different topics and aspects of public health. I have learned over and over again about income inequality, social determinants of health, and upstream factors of poor health. We talk about how one’s wealth is the best predictor of their health. How the US spends the most on healthcare while having some of the worst health among other high-income countries. How the rise in income inequality is associated with the lack of low-income housing and the rise of housing insecurity. And yet we never seem to talk about homelessness.

In combination with the lack of consideration of people experiencing homeless in my courses, I grew up in a way I can only describe as a bubble and never understood or really was aware of the increasingly high rates of homelessness occurring not too far from me. To be honest, I am embarrassed to admit that I was one of those people growing up who most often assumed that people become homeless either due to drug addiction or severe mental health disorders.

It has been two weeks of GCIL, and I have learned more about the housing crisis and homelessness in Seattle than ever before. I am confused and feel almost ashamed that had I not taken this course for capstone, I would graduate without having learned about or really considered people experiencing homelessness in Seattle through my public health education.

Homelessness is, at it’s core, a public health issue and a structural issue and I am so grateful to be learning about it here. I have learned about underlying contexts that cause some people to be more vulnerable to homelessness along with challenges that individuals who do not have a home have faced during COVID-19 and the burden of a tight housing market. I am very happy and excited for this course and the opportunity to learn.

Cailin

*TW racism, death

Today in Seattle, green is slowly reclaiming the empty spaces between oak branches. Pink quietly fills the hedgerows and front porch planter boxes. I see yellows and reds asserting their place in solitary bramble bushes, softening their thorny presence. Springtime is fickle yet self-assured, bringing buzzing, chirping relief from months of winter. The entire city exhales. My body relaxes just a little.

Meanwhile, my thoughts are occupied with other realities. Admiring flowers in April seems so negligible when there is so much concurrent suffering and injustice. How can I enjoy the crusade of spring when doing so feels so ignorant?

As a student in the School of Public Health and in GCIL: Seattle I have been exposed to the reality of those experiencing homelessness. Further, I see the names of Daunte Wright, Delaina Yaun, and Xiaojie Tan, among so many others wrongfully killed due to systemic hatred. I feel my privilege wrapped around me like an itchy down jacket, uncomfortably protecting me from the cold.

GCIL has shown me the suffering that lies out our front doors and in our streets. Point-in-time data from 2020 found over 10,000 people homeless in Seattle on any given night. Some live in rudimentary tents that leak and allow wind to pierce their bodies. Some live in their cars where a single dead battery could leave them stranded, watching parking tickets pile up on their windshield like malevolent snow. Shelters do not have space to house those cleared out from encampments, and winter leaves many cold, sick, and without protection from the elements.

However, my time so far in GCIL has shown that simply wallowing in this reality would be just as selfish as ignoring it; feeling guilt and sadness does not exonerate me from doing real work. Rex Hohlbein, the founder of Seattle’s Facing Homelessness, spoke in videos we viewed for class and gave us steps to reduce stigma among those who are housing insecure. When we see those experiencing homelessness, he says, say hello. Use your voice and presence to decrease stigma and begin the process of rehumanization. This is a small act, yet I believe rehumanization is the most important first step. There is so much more to learn and do, but I have started saying hello when I walk on the street.

So as spring marches forward, I will let it. As I reflect, I am grateful for my time so far in GCIL and in Public Health to show me how I can be a steward for social justice. Instead of fighting the internal battle of White, housed guilt, I will keep actively working to dismantle the systems of stigma and racism. The magnolias bloom either way.

Mary Fudge

I am a Civil Engineering Senior who took this class to fulfill my capstone requirement. Coming into the class, I did not know what to expect. I used to be someone who used to enjoy going to classes and learning about different topics. However, with the pandemic, classes became something of a chore and more about just somehow completing homework and doing well in exams than actually learning something. This class has changed that for me and brought back some of my earlier enthusiasm. One of the key reasons for this is the topic- Homelessness is an extremely relevant problem, and I find it satisfying to know that the work that I put in can have a real-life impact. The second reason is the structure of the class- I am enjoying the process of working with my wonderful teammates and collaborating to resolve any problems that come along the way. Finally, I believe that the instructors have done a great job when it comes to engaging the students and setting clear expectations for the course in class and during office hours.

I am excited to be working with my organization, Facing Homelessness. The organization seeks to provide homes for the unhoused and to eradicate the negative stereotypes surrounding people facing homelessness. My teammates and I are working towards solutions that can help foster a sense of community among those people that the organization houses- this is challenging considering the pandemic and the fact that only one individual can reside per home that the organization constructs. We hope to arrive at a practical solution despite these constraints. Working with this organization and watching the guest lectures has been an eye-opening experience. It has improved my understanding of the depth and the severity of the homelessness crisis in Seattle and has given me the necessary motivation and tools to make an impact.

AJ

Though it has only been a few weeks since the quarter began, I can already tell the lessons I learn in the GCIL class will stick with me for many years to come. The one that I have spent considerable time reflecting on was from Gregg Colburn who made the point that homelessness is one of the only grand challenges that actually has a fairly straightforward solution. The solution is to build large amount of affordable housing instead of more multi-million-dollar high rise condos. I wonder then, why we haven’t started doing so.

Though this solution is expensive, it is not completely impossible. As a nation we allocate hundreds of billions of dollars to military spending without hesitation but refuse to build affordable housing for Americans, many of whom have spent years serving our country in the military and are left to live on the streets. In lecture today one of the guest speakers mentioned it would take between 4 and 11 billion dollars to fund enough housing units for the estimated population of homeless people in Seattle. This is a small figure compared to the almost 719 billion dollars the U.S. military received in 2019.

For a long time, I had the mindset that homelessness was just an unfortunate result of bad luck. I did not think that it was the individuals’ fault for being homeless but I did not understand the extent to which the system sets individuals up for failure. As neighborhoods are gentrified and rent prices soar, more and more people are left without shelter. This is not just bad luck. These people are victims of an intentional lack of affordable housing.

I can see how this class is beginning the shape my understanding of the homelessness problem in Seattle. Though it is enlightening, I find myself growing increasingly angry. I am angry that we, as a city, have failed to implement a solution to get all of our fellow unsheltered Seattleites into permanent housing. I think it is this energy that will drive my group and I to design a viable and effective solution for DESC (external).

Natalie

Even only during the first weeks of taking the GCIL Seattle course, I have learned so much about homelessness, scofflaw, and the City of Seattle. More importantly, I’ve learned that I have a lot more to learn about all of these topics. The interconnectedness of all social issues proves that perhaps treating symptoms of social inequalities will never truly fix the roots of these problems in the long run. Resources in the weekly class prep have been especially useful and eye-opening for me in beginning to explore poverty, socioeconomic marginalization, and the process of healing community distrust.

Obviously, the pandemic has been difficult for every one of us. But people experiencing homelessness have faced an unimaginable amount of vulnerability and lack of access to resources in the last year. An insightful class resource that stood out to me last week was a personal essay published in the Seattle Times by Sabra Boyd, an individual who has experienced homelessness. ( https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/personal-essay-theres-never-a-good-time-to-be-homeless-in-seattle-now-its-even-harder/). Sabra recounts her experience living in the UW undergraduate library and her feelings of constant paranoia. At the beginning of the pandemic, I used to complain about having to give up a quiet study space in the library. But some people had to give up shelter. Another great resource that expanded my view of the homelessness in the UW community was the University of Washington Students: An Internal Report (https://evans.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/files//student_housing_and_food_insecurity_report_may2019.pdf). It’s resources like these, which center homelessness in my own community, that are wake up calls. But I wish I didn’t have to be personally connected to an issue to immediately care about it. I hope this class will help me expand my ability to deeply empathize with communities other than my own facing issues that I’ve never experienced.

Sydney